3D Printing and the IoT

Have you ever thought about the immense amount of potential uses of 3D printing? In the article, “Smart Sensory Prosthetic Links Wearers to the IoT with 3D Printing”(http://3dprintingindustry.com/2015/09/17/smart-sensory-prosthetic-links-wearers-to-the-iot/), the potential of 3D printing is stretched with new use in the prosthetic limb industry. The article is focused on Troy Baverstock, a 3D printing enthusiast and a student at Australia’s Griffith University. Baverstock has used his expertise in 3D printing to develop limbU, a “3D printed add-on for prosthetic legs that is equipped with various sensors to help prosthetic users keep track of their internal and external worlds”. LimbU differs from its various competitors in that it connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth to track the intensity, speed, number of steps, as well as monitors altitude, direction, and GPS coordinates. The data collected by the limbU also assists doctors to monitor rehabilitation efforts on a daily basis. Additionally, the covers of the limbU come in various colors and designs. What other ways can 3D printing have an effect within the medical market? How else can 3D printing and the IoT partner to provide a better customer experience?